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CHAPTER 24
Julian
WEDDINGS & SWEET TARTS
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      SO WE DECIDED TO STAY AND WATCH THE SUNRISE. Dawn on the beach is surprisingly cold. Annie and I are wrapped in each other's arms, but the cold air is still chilly enough to make me cold. In a way I’m glad, I turn a little to see Annie in my arms.
      Annie releases a small sigh in her sleep, drawing my attention. She looks so beautiful that I impulsively want to kiss her. Each moment I've spent with Annie has been with the urgency that it could be our last. Unease seeps into what should be a perfect morning, I close my eyes, wanting to unthink that possibility. Annie shifts beside me. She opens her eyes, blinking slowly. A smile spreads across her face. Suddenly, Annie's phone rings. She rolls over on her side and glances at her phone.
      “What's wrong?” I ask, resting my chin on her shoulder. Annie tucks her phone in her pocket, giving me a quick kiss.
      “Come on, we should go back, after that stunt we pulled in Hawaii, I don’t think we can be trusted enough to be left alone.” She says getting up off the sand. “Do we have to?” I ask squinting up at her because of the bright sun and she smiles pulling me up from the sand.

      This afternoon, I sat on my bed drawing when Annie came galloping into my room wearing a white t-shirt and a pastel pink overall skirt, and her blonde shoulder length hair is tied into a ponytail and wearing black sneakers with flowers on them “Oh my god.” I say laughing.
       “There's nothing wrong with pretending you're a horse.”
       “You look like a mad woman.” Annie laughs and walks over to me slowly and sits down across from me. She looks down at my drawings and then looks back up at me.
       “What's this?” She asks, handing me an envelope.
       “It's an invitation to my brother's wedding. He's getting married tomorrow. No big deal” I shrug. “It is a big deal, he's your brother.” She takes me hand squeezing it tightly.
       “Will you go with me?” “Fine, but if you do the Farmer Ted dance routine from Sixteen Candles, I will leave you stuck there with your entire family.” I laughed at her comment and lightly kissed her forehead. “You're too precious, Annie Grace.”

☆

       That morning, Annie and I got dressed and drove to my brother's wedding. Annie is wearing a white dress and her hair is resting on her shoulders, and she’s wearing make up. Me on the other hand is wearing a black suit. We sat in the front row, by the time they got to their vows, I glanced over at Annie who was watching the wedding. During the reception, Annie and I watched David and his wife, Anna dance the whole time, when a slow song starts to play, I take Annie's hand and we start slow dancing. We get back to the hospital late. I stop the car and we sit there for a minute.
        “I can tell that you're not a wedding person.”
        “Hated every minute.”
        “Oh yeah, I could really tell during their vows.” I say sarcastically. “There was something in my eye.” We sit in the dark for a few minutes when Annie says, “ I want some sweet tarts.” 

☆

        I sat outside in front of a gas station cross legged waiting for Annie to return with the sweet tarts. When she returns, she sits down next to me smiling. “Got them.” Annie says opening the box and pours some in my hand. “These were my favorite candies when I was a kid.”
 

     “I like hearing you talk about your childhood.”
       “You never told me about your childhood.”
       “You mean besides my parents uprooting us to California?”
       “Be serious.” She says giggling.
      “When I was five, David, Mara and I would play knights at this castle near our house.”
      “Did you pretend you're Gwenieve and Lancelot?” Annie laughs.
      “Even stole a sword from one of the exhibits. Weighed a ton.” Annie and I continue to laugh when Annie’s phone chimes. She pulls it out of her pocket and looks down at her phone.
       “Shit! Kim knows we're gone.”
      “Okay.” I say and get up from the sidewalk and head to the car.
      “Annie, where are the keys?” I ask searching my pockets.
      “Here.” She says and tosses the keys to me.